American Indians and Alaska Natives have disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The responsibility to prevent and control STDs in Indian/Native communities is shared among multiple agencies; however inconsistent collaboration between these various agencies may hamper public health efforts. Thus, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) engaged JSI/Colorado to research the epidemiology of STDs in this population and current resources available to this population to better educate others about this issue.

Project objectives were to:

Increase awareness of the American Indian population in project areas of STD risk.

Identify and make available resources available to address the needs of Indians/Natives related to STDs.

Define areas for NCSD advocacy as it relates to STDs in Indian/Native populations by identifying unique STD issues, identifying what has already been accomplished, identifying organizations that work with health issues in this group, forming relationships/networks with existing organizations currently addressing Indian/Native health issues, and creating a brief report with results.

Coordinate and convene inaugural meeting of the NCSD Indian/Native Workgroup.

This project's activities resulted in a monograph of state and urban area factsheets published by the NCSD.